Cable-suspension transportation system.



PA'TENTED SEPT. S, IOOO. O. IIIOKS. l OABLE SUSPENSION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12, 1907V 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 897,978. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.

C. G. HICKS. CABLE SUSPENSION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FIEED MAR.12,1907.

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No. 897,978. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908; C. G. HICKS. CABLE SUSPENSION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1Z,1907.

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l UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.,

CHARLES G. HICKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN W. KILUORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CABLE-SUSPEN SION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12, 1907.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Serial No. 361,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. Hicks, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Suspension Transportation Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cable suspension transportation systems.

Broadly stated, the object of my invention is to provide a transportation system of this type adapted for the transportation of both passengers and freight at a rate of speed, say from ten to twenty miles an hour, which will render the same practical and economical, both mechanically and commercially. i

To this end my invention consists particularly in providing improved means for preventing sagging of the supporting cables under the weight of the cars as they approach the poles or other supports for the cables which, as is well known, unless prevented, forms an abrupt ascent over which it is often impossible for the cars to pass, particularly when operating under their own power, or if their momentum is sufficient to carry them over, will impart such a severe jar and jolt to the cars as to render them not only too uncomfortable for passenger service, but, also, very dangerous, owing to the liability of their being thrown off from the cables. So far as I am aware, prior to my invention, no means for this purpose had ever been devised which would overcome the described objection and render riding inthe cars of a system of this type safe and comfortable and at the same time render it practicable to run the cars at a rate of speed necessary to economy of operation, commercially as well as mechanically.

My invention also comprises guides which engage thecables in advance of the car or truck wheels which are adapted to secure and insure proper engagement of said wheels with the cables, thus lessening the power required to propel the cars and reducing liability of derailment thereof to minimum, due to a sudden swerve in said cables.

My invention also comprises safety devices adapted to prevent the cars from falling in case of derailment.

My invention also consists of the various other features, combinations of features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fully illustraterl,-F`igure 1 is a side view of a section of a cable suspenh sion transportation system of my invention. Figs.` 2 and' 3 are, respectively, enlarged side and plan views of the .track sections connecting adjacent cable spans in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 of a modified form of track section. Fig. '6 is a side view of still another modified form of track section. Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, enlarged side and plan views showing Athe manner of pivoting the arms forming the track sections shown in Fig. 6 to the supporting poles. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view o f a car designed for use with my improved transportation system. Fig. 10 is an end View of the car truck, showing the same as passing over the track sections connecting adjacent spans; and Fig. 1]. is an enlarged sectional view of one of the truck wheels.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the cables forming the track, B the poles upon which said cables are supported and C a car supported upon the cables A by rollers c. In practice I prefer to use two supporting cables A which extend parallel with each other and are supported upon separate series of poles B arranged in pairs transversely of the structure.

An important feature of my improved transportation system consists in making the cables A in separate sections, the ends of each section being independently connected to adjacent poles, preferably in such manner as to provide for adjusting the tension thereof and for taking up the slack, as by means of turn-buckles 1. By this construction, the slack of the cable and its sag under the Weight of the cars passing over the same, will be limited to that of each section, instead of to the Slack of a number of sections, as is the case where the cables A extended continuously over a number of spans of the structure. The obvious result is that the sag of the cables, as the cars approach the poles, will be much less than with cables continuous over several spans.

To prevent sagging of the cables A adj acentto the poles B and to periit the car to pass over the poles B without jarring or j olting, the spans of the cables A on opposite Sides of the poles are connected by track secrollers 5 at such a distance therefrom that the larms to the cable spans consist of rollers 4 i under their own power.

tions over which the cars pass from one span j of the cable to. another. In what I consider' their preferable form, said track sections (see Figs. l, 2 and 3) comprise sections 2 i rigidly secured to the upper ends of said poles, to the opposite ends of which are pivoted arms 3, which are respectively connected to the cable spans A on opposite sides of the poles B, in such manner that the ends of said arms will be supported by said cable, while, at the same time, permitting said cable to play freely through the same. As preferably constructed, the means for connecting said and 5 revolubly mounted in said arms 3, the rollers 4 at the ends of said arms and the bend of the cable in passing around said wheels or rollers will not be sufficiently abrupt to interfere with its running freely upon said rollers. The rollers 4 and 5 are preferably grooved, thus forming guides for the cable.l The cables A pass over the tops of the rollers 4, thence under the rollers 5, and are secured to the oles B, preferably at points as high as possib e above the lower sides of the rollers 5. The track sections 2 and arms 3, thus form tracks over which the cars pass from one cable span to another, and the arms 3 are made of such length, say from twelve to fifteen feet, that the saO' of the cable, due to the weight of the car, wi l produce a grade or inclination of the arms 3 such that the cars can easily ascend the same even when running j In ordinary cases the relation will be such that the grade or in-v clination of said arms will be from twelve to fifteen inches in the length of the arm, although the momentum of the cars, articu larly when running at a reasonably high speed, will be sufficient to carry them up considerably higher.

- In the preferable construction shown, the track sections 2 and arms 3 both consist of two metal bars, spaced and rigidly connected to form a structure of desired width and the arms 3 are pivoted to the tracks 2 by means of bars 6 rigidly secured between the inner ends of the bars forming the arms 3, the ends of said bars 6 projecting beyond the inner ends of the arms 3 and being provided with suitable holes or openings ada ted to engage pivot pins 7 secured in the en( s of the track sections 2. The ends of the track sections 2 are rounded concentric with the aXis of said pivot pins 7 and the inner ends of the bars forming the arms 3 are reversely curved, correspondingly, so that the upper edges of said arms 3 will be tangent to the treads of the track sections 2, thus permitting the cars to pass from said arms 3 to said track sections 2 without jar or jolt.

In what I consider now to be the preferable embodiment of my invention, the guide wheels or rollers 5 are made of considerable size, say thirty inches in diameter, being revolubly mounted in suitable depending brackets 8 on the arms 3, the cables A 'passinfT around the same being secured to the poes B at points as high as possible above the lower sides of said wheels or rollers. With this construction, it is obvious that the weight and tension of the cable sections A will exert a force on the under sides of the wheels or rollers 5 tending to raise the outer end of the arm 3 normally considerably above the points of attachment of the cable sections to the poles B. As, however, a car approaches a pole, the weight of the car will operate to depress said arm and, by properly adjusting the tension of the cable sections, said cable sections and the arms 3 may be brought substantially into alinement, so that the cars will pass from said cable sections onto said arms practically without jolt or jar. Preferably, also, the wheels or rollers 4 are made of considerable size, say fifteen inches in diameter, thus bending the cables A on relatively large radii where they pass over the same and allowing said cables to play over said wheels with very slight resistance. My invention, however, contemplates equally the use of small wheels or rollers, and in Figs. 6, 7 and 3, I have shown such small wheels or rollers, the same being designated 41 and 51, respectively.

While I prefer to use the intermediate track sections 2 and to pivot the arms 3 thereto, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and as heretofore described, my invention contemplates equally pivoting said arms directly to the poles B. This modification is illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, in which 31 designates the arms-pivoted directly to `plates b which extend upwardly from the tops of the poles B, between the bars or members forming said arms, the thickness of the plates b being equal to the distance between the bars or members forming said arms. In order to pivot said arms 31 to the plates b without varying the thickness of the arms at their pivotal points, one member only of each arm 31 is pivoted to the plate I), the pivoted members of different arms pivoted to the same pole being on opposite sides of said plate. As in the preferable construction, the ends of the pivoted members of the arms 31 are rounded concentric with the pivot pins 71 and the cooperating member of the,Y opposite arm correspondingly rounded so thatthe upper surfaces ,of said arms will be practically continuous'with each other at their pivotal point. In order to prevent the arms 31 from becoming disengaged from the pivot pin 71, the bearing plates I) are extended in both directions beyond the ends of the unattached members of said arms 31.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have illustrated still another modificationv or embodiment of my invention. In this modification the track sections, designated by 32, instead of being made up of a plurality of members, including members pivoted on the poles, extend continuously on both sides of the poles B. As shown, said track sections 32 are substantially the same in construction members of the track sections 32 to which they are secured, a sufficient distance to provide necessary clearance between said track sections and the poles. Suitable stops 11'on the track sections 32 maintain the same in desired longitudinal position relatively to the poles B. Mounted in the opposite ends of the track sections '32, are rollers 42 over which the cable sections A pass, as in the forms of pivoted track sections previously described. From the wheels or rollers 42 the cable sections A pass under wheels or rollers 52 preferably mounted between the guide bars 9 and the members of the track sections 32 to which said bars 9 are connected, thus bringing the attached ends of the cables substantially in line with the poles B. Preferably, also, said cable sections A will be attached to the poles B above said track sections 32.

If desired, suitable means may be provided for the purpose of defining their lowermost positions on the poles B, as for instance, brackets 12. Ordinarily, however, l prefer to dispense with such supports.

As regards its general features, the cars C may be of any approved-or desired construction. For purposes of illustration, l have shown the same merely as a rectangular boxshaped structure open at the top suspended from a truck supported on the cables A by means of arms 13.

The car truck comprises a suitable frame consisting, as shown, of longitudinal frame members 14 connected by transverse frame members 15, reinforced, if desired, by diagonal bracing 16.

Revolubly mounted in .suitable bearings on the truck are shafts 17 secured to rotate with which are the wheels c. The wheels c are of peculiar construction, being provided with peripheral grooves 19 adapted to engage the cables A and at both sides of said grooves 19 with fiat treads 20 adapted to run upon the treads of the different forms of track sections 3, 31 and 32, heretofore described. .ln order that said truck wheels c may pass from the cables to the track sections 3, 31 and 32, and vice versa, without jar or jolt, the wheels or rollers 4, 41 and 42 mounted in the ends ofthe track sections, are so positioned that the top sides of the cables will extend above the treads of the track sections a distance equal to the depth of the grooves 19 in said truck wheels.

To prevent derailment of the trucks, the truck wheels c are preferably provided with flanges 21 which embrace opposite sides of the cables A and of the track sections 3, 31 and In order to increase the traction of the truck wheels c and to reduce the wear on the cables from the action of said truck wheels, l prefer to provide said truck wheels with tires 22 of vulcanized fiber, rubber, leather orthe like.

To provide for adjusting the tires 22 to the wheels c, said wheels are preferably provided with removable sections 23, at their peripheries, the grooves 19 being formed partly in said removable sections 23 and partly in the solid portions of the wheels c.

Vf hen the wheels are constructed with removable tread sections 23, a relatively narrow groove 24 is preferably formed at the bottoms of the grooves 19, partly in said removable sections 23 and partly in the solid sections of the wheels and formed at the interior of the removable tires 22 are inwardly projecting flanges 25, which are normally slightly wider than the width of the grooves 24. Thus, when the removable sections 23 of the wheels are secured in position the tongues or flanges 25 will be securely clamped in said grooves 24, thus preventing said tires 22 from slipping on the wheels and also providing for quickly and conveniently removing and replacing the same when desired. 1Nhere said tires 22 are made of vulcanized rubber, they can be cast directly upon the wheels.

As a further improvement in transportation systems of this type, I provide suitable guides on the trucks located at a considerable distance, say two feet, in advance of the points of engagement of the truck wheels c, with the cables A, which embrace said. cables, thus operating to maintain the cables in alinement with the grooves 19 in said wheels c, thereby reducing the danger of derailment, due to sudden swerves in the cables and also reducing the resistance to the movement of the car caused by friction between said cables and the flanges 21 of said wheels. As shown, said. guides consist of rollers 26 revolubly mounted on vertically disposed studs or pins 27 secured in the transverse frame members 15, the longitudinal frame members 14 being extended so as to bring the frame members 15 and thus the guide rollers 26 in desired position in advance of the truck wheels c.

In order to prevent the car from falling,

CTX

in case of derailment, the shafts 17 are extended a considerable distance on both sides of the truck, as shown at 28, and secured to the outer ends thereof are plates or disks 29. In case ofderailment, the cables A will catch either upon the truck frames or upon the eX- tensions 28 of the shafts 17, the disks 29 preventing said cables from sliding off from said shaft extensions 28, in case said sh-aft extensions rest upon said cables.

As shown, the car C is suspended from a shaft 30 revolubly mounted in suitable bearings 31 on the longitudinal frame members 14 of the truck frame.

The cars C may be propelled in any desired or approved manner, either by means of suitable connection with an outside source of power or by means Ofsuitable motors carried by said cars and driving connection between said motors and the truck shafts 17. I prefer, however, to operate said cars under their own power, which, to save room in the cars and to afford a good outlook to the engineers or motormen, will preferably be mounted on the trucks, and. in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings I have illustrated this arrangement, 32 designating a suitable platform supported on the longitudinal frame members 14 of the truck frame between the wheels c. Mounted on the platform 32 is a motor indicated at 33, preferably an approved form of gasolene motor. The platform 32 is sufficiently large to safely and conveniently carry the motorman or engineer and, if desired, may be protected by a suitable railing.

The motor shaft, indicated at 35, is operatively connected with the truck axles 17 by means of chain belts 36 adjusted to sprocket wheels 37 and 38 secured respectively to said motor shaft and to the truck axles. To insure against break downs, I prefer to use two chain belts, one connected to each axle, but I contemplate equally the use of a single chain belt.

I claim 1. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports said -track sections comprising movably supported members and means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with said cable spans comprising supporting guides mounted in the ends of said movably supported members of said track sections and inner supporting guides, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner supporting guides.

2. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at the supports said track sections comprising movably supported members and means for engaging said movably supprising also movably supported members,

and means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with the cables at opposite sides of said supports, comprising supporting guides secured between the outer ends of said spaced members forming said track sections and inner supporting guides, the cables passing over said outer guides and under said inner guides.

4. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports for said cables, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising connected bars spaced apart to form a track of desired width, and comprising also movably supported members, and means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with the cables at opposite sides of said supports, comprising guide wheels mounted between the ends of the spaced members of said tracksections and inner guide wheels also mounted between the members of Ysaid track sections, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner guide wheels.

5. A cable suspension transportation system comprising supports, cables supported thereby, each span of which forms a separate section and track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising movably supported members and means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with said cable spans comprising supporting guides mounted in the ends of said movably supported members of said track sections and inner supporting guides, the cable spans passing over said outer and under said inner supporting guides.

6. A cable suspension transportation system comprising supports, cables supported thereby, each span of which forms a separate section, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising movably supported members and means for engaging saidx'movably supported members of said track sections with said cable sp ans comprising guide wheels revolubly mounted at the ends of said movably supported members of said track sections and inner guide wheels, said cables passing over said outer and under said inner guide wheels.

7. A cable suspension transportation system, comprising supports, cables supported thereby, each span of which forms a separate section, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports said track sections comprising movably supported members and means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with said cable spans comprising a supporting guide mounted at the ends of said movably supported members of said track sections and inner guide wheels of considerable size, the cables passing over said outer supporting guides and under said inner guide wheels and being. connected to the supports above the lower sides of said inner guide wheels.

8. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising arms pivoted to said cable supports and means for engaging said armswith said cable spans comprising supporting guides mounted in the ends of said arms and inner supporting guides, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner supporting guides.

9. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent spans at said supports, said track sections comprising arms comprising connected bars spaced apart to form tracks -of desired width, said arms being pivoted to the cable supports at one end and means for engaging said arms with said cables comprising supporting guides mounted at the ends of said track sections between the members thereof and inner supporting guides, the guides passing over said outer and under said inner supporting guides.

10. A cable suspension transportation system comprising supports, cables supported thereby, each span of which forms a separate section, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising arms pivoted to said supports at one end, supporting guides mounted at the ends of said arms and inner supporting guides, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner supporting guides.

l1. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent Cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising intermediate portions rigidly supported upon said cable supports and arms pivoted to said iixed portions, and means for engaging said arms with said cables comprising supporting guides mounted in the ends of said arms and inner supporting guides, the cables passingv over said outer and under saidv inner guides.

l2. A cable suspension transportation system, comprising supports, cables supported thereby, 'each span of which forms a separate section, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sec.

v cables, said means comprising guide wheels .mounted at the' ends of said arms between the spaced members thereof and inner supporting wheels likewise mounted between the spaced members of said arms, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner supporting wheels.

13. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, track sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, which are relatively wide as compared with the diameter of the cable, a car, wheels thereon which engage said cables, said wheels being provided with peripheral grooves adapted to engage the cables and with ilat tread portions outside of said grooves adapted to engage the treads of said track sections.

14. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, tra'ck sections connecting adjacent cable spans at said supports, said track sections comprising movably supported members comprising connected bars spaced apart to form a track of desired width, means for engaging said movably supported members of said track sections with the cable at opposite sides of said supports, comprising supporting guides secured between the outer ends of said spaced bars forming said movably supported members ofsaid track sections and inner supporting guides, the cables passing over said outer and under said inner guides, a car, supporting wheels thereon adapted to run upon said cables, said supporting wheels being provided with peripheral grooves adapted to engage said cables and with flat tread portions adapted to run upon the track sections connecting adjacent cable spans, the outer supporting guides for engaging said track sections with said cables being positioned so as to bring the tops of the cables above the treads of the track sections a distance equal to the depth of the peripheral grooves in the car wheels.

15. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, cars, wheels thereon adapted to run upon said cables and safety devices to prevent said cars from falling in case of derailment, comprising lateral projections on said cars and downward extensions thereof outside of the supporting cables.

16. A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, a car, axles revolubly mounted therein, wheels secured to said axles, lateral extensions of said axles and disks secured to said extensions outside of the supporting cables.

17 A cable suspension transportation system comprising cables, supports therefor, a car truck, axles revolubly mounted therein, Wheels secured to said trucks and adapted to run upon the supporting cables, a car suspended from said truck, a motor mounted upon said truck, and driving connection between said motor and an axle of the truck.

18. A cable suspension transportation system, comprising cables, supports therefor, cars, Wheels therein adapted to run upon said cables and guides on said cars which embrace the cables in advance of said car Wheels.

19. A cable suspension transportation systern, com rising cables, supports therefor, cars, Whee s therein adapted to run upon said cables and guides on said cars Which embrace the cables in advance of said car Wheels consisting of elongated rollers revolubly mount* ed on verticallyT disposed studs secured in the car frame.

In testimony, that claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix my signature in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses, this 6th day of March, A; D. 1907.

CHARLES G. HICKS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W, KILMORE, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL. 

